leaf insect(family Phylliidae), also called walking leaf any of about 25 30 species of flat, green insects with (order Phasmida) that have a leaflike appearancethat belong to the order Phasmatodea. The female has large leathery forewings (tegmina) that lie edge to edge on the abdomen and resemble, in their vein pattern, the midrib and veins in a leaf; . Females are flightless and so the hindwings have no function. The male has small tegmina and ample, non-leaflike, functional hindwings. Newly hatched young are reddish in colour ; they and become green after feeding on leaves. Colour and form provide protection for the insect, as does the similarity between its eggs and various types of seeds.The leaf insect, by allowing these insects to blend with their environment.

All species of leaf insects are about 60 mm (2.3 inches) long , ranges and range from India to the Fiji Islands. It is These are related to the stick insect (insects in the family Phasmatidae ; (compare walkingstick).